Multitier ornamental fountain

ABSTRACT

An ornamental fountain nozzle includes an elongate tubular body having a duct formed therethrough between opposite open ends of the body. An elongate plug is disposed across the duct inwardly of the body adjacent its outlet end and has its periphery engaged with the walls of the duct. A plurality of tapered grooves are formed in the sidewalls of the plug at regular intervals around the plug and are inclined in a skew manner to the axis of the duct. A hollow open-ended tube is disposed coaxially of the duct through the plug so that liquid introduced to the inlet end of the body flows through the tapered skew plug grooves to define the lower tier of a fountain discharge pattern and also flows through the central tube to define an upper central tier of the pattern.

limited tt tnt 1151 3,645,449 Hruby, .llr. Web. 29, W72

[54] MlULTllTlHER ORNAMENTAL WOUNTMN 3,558,053 1 1971 Hruby, .lr...239/428.5 X [72] Inventor: John 0. ll-llruby, .llr., Burbank, Calif.Primary Examiner A"en N Knowles [73] Assignee: Rain Jet Corp, Burbank,Calif. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Filed: Oct 1970Attorney-Chr1st1e, Parker & Hale 211 Appl. No.: 78,117 ABSTMQT Anornamental fountain nozzle includes an elongate tubular R l ted .S.A t

e a U pphca Dam body having a duct formed therethrough between opposite[63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 784,541, Dec. 9, open ends of thebody. An elongate plug is disposed across the 1968, Pat. No.3,558,053,,which is a continuation-induct inwardly of the body adjacentits outlet end and has its part of Ser. No. 691,11 1, Dec. 8, 1967,abandoned, periphery engaged with the walls of the duct. A plurality ofwhich is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 492,389, tapered grooves areformed in the sidewalls of the plug at Oct. 4, 1965, abandoned. regularintervals around the plug and are inclined in a skew manner to the axisof the duct. A hollow open-ended tube is [52] US. Cl ..239/l7,239/428.5, 239/488 disposed coaxially of the duct through the plug sothat liquid [51] llnt. ..B05b 17/08 introduced to the inlet end of thebody flows through the [58] Field of Search ..239/17, 428.5, 488,23,552, tapered skew plug grooves to define the lower tier of a foun-239/553, 553.3 tain discharge pattern and also flows through the centraltube to define an upper central tier of the pattern. [56] ReferencesCited 28 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,350,016 /1967Rabe et al ..239/552 4 51 l 1 4/ l l 1 1 T 2M 1 \r 33/ I" /Z5 I 1 E l ,1All Paten ted Feb. 29, W72

Patented Feb. 29, 1972 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MULTITIER ORNAMENTAL FOUNTAINCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 784,541 filedDec. 9, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,053 as a continuation-impart ofnow-abandoned application Ser. No. 691,1 1 1 filed Dec. 8, 1967 as acontinuation-in-part of now-abandoned application Ser. No. 492,389 filedOct. 4, 1965.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to liquid handling and, more particularly, to aeratingornamental fountain nozzles.

Description of the Prior Art In ornamental fountain arrangements whichare to be viewed during the day without illumination by artificiallight, it is desired that the discharged water be aerated as fully aspossible in order that the water discharge pattern may be readilyvisible. Aerating fountainheads or nozzles are known. Presentfountainheads, however, produce only a limited number of water dischargepatterns. Many existing fountainheads do not produce sufficient aerationof the water discharged from them. Moreover, many existing aeratingnozzles contain moving parts which wear as the nozzle is operated. Inother cases, existing aerating nozzles require critical clearances inthe nozzle openings to produce the desired aeration. These clearanceseither become worn by erosion as the nozzle is operated or clogged byforeign particles in the liquid passing through the nozzle, thusadversely affecting the nozzle-aerating efficiency.

For efficiency of operation, an aerating fountain nozzle should producethe appearance of discharging a massive stream of water even though thequantity of water actually passed through the nozzle is relativelymoderate. When this desired condition is obtained, a small pump may beused, thus resulting in a fountain which is economical to operate. Also,in order that they may be used in populated areas, aerating fountainnozzles should produce as little mist or fine spray as possi' ble. Mistis readily transported by a slight breeze out of the fountain area tolocations where viewers may be positioned. Mist also tends to mask thebasic discharge pattern, and thus detracts from the aesthetic effectdesired in the fountain.

The design of aerating liquid nozzles is often more of an art than ascience, especially where it is desired that the aerated liquiddischarged from the noule follow a predetermined path from the nozzlethroughout a relatively wide range of liquid pressures supplied to thenozzle, and where the nozzle is to be used to produce an ornamentaleffect. The use of techniques and principles which are effective ingas-mixing nozzles, wherein two or more gases are mixed in the nozzlestructure and are discharged as a mixture, is practical in only randomsituations in aerating liquid nozzles because of the widely dif' ferentphysical properties between gases and liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a simple, rugged,effective and efficient ornamental fountain nozzle. The nozzle containsno moving parts which may wear as the nozzle is operated. Moreover, nocritically sized apertures are provided in the nozzle, and thus watererosion and the presence of foreign particles in the water passingthrough the nozzle has little, if any, effect upon the aeratingefficiency of the nozzle. The nozzle produces the appearance of arelatively massive discharge stream even though the actual volume ofwater passed through the nozzle is moderate. Nozzles according to thisinvention provide an exceptionally attractive multitier fountain patternwhich is essentially free of objectionable mist or fine spray and whichis readily visible because of the high degree of aeration of the nozzledischarge and freedom from mist.

Generally speaking, this invention provides an ornamental fountainnozzle which includes an elongate tubular body defining a duct throughits length between liquid inlet and outlet openings defined acrossopposite open ends of the body. A plug having substantial lengthrelative to the diameter of the duct is disposed across the ductinwardly of the body outlet end and adjacent to such end of the body.The plug is secured from movement along the length of the body. The plughas its periphery engaged with the inner walls of the duct. A pluralityof grooves are formed in the sidewalls of the plug and communicatebetween the opposite ends of the plug. The grooves and the inner wallsof the body cooperate to define a corresponding plurality of liquidoutlet passages which have an aggregate cross-sectional area at leastadjacent the outlet end of the body substantially less than thecross-sectional area of the duct. The surface of the plug adjacent theoutlet end of the body, peripherally of the opening of each groove tosuch surface, defines a sharp comer with those walls of the grooveswhich are formed by the plug. A hollow tube extends axially of the bodyfrom a lower end communicating with the duct on the-side of the plugtoward the liquid inlet opening through the plug to an upper end spacedtoward the outlet end of the body from the plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other featuresof the present invention are more fully set forth in the followingdetailed description of the invention, which description is presented inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an ornamental fountainnozzle according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a elevation view of the discharge pattern produced by thenozzle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a typical insert plug encountered in anozzle according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing another form ofstructure which may be used in a nozzle according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view of the upper endof the central tube of another nozzle according to this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of another nozzle accordingto this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS An aerating ornamentalfountain nozzle 10, shown in FIG. 1, includes an elongate tubular body11 which defines an elongate duct 12 therein. The duct extends from aninlet opening 13 defined across an open lower end 15 of the body to anoutlet opening 16 defined across an open upper end R7 of the body.Adjacent its lower end, the exterior of the body is threaded, as at 18,to adapt the body to be connected to the correspondingly threaded upperend of a water supply pipe or the like (not shown) through which waterat appropriate pressure is supplied to nozzle 10. As shown in FIG. 1, itis preferred that duct 12 be of right circular cylindrical configurationand have a constant diameter along its length between the upper andlower ends of the body. Preferably, body 11 is fabricated from a lengthof polyvinyl chloride pipe, although it is within the scope of thisinvention that other materials may be used, or that the body may befabricated of something other than a length of pipe. In any event, duct12 extends without restriction from the open upper end of the body for asubstantial distance along the length of the body, preferably to theliquid inlet opening defined at its lower end.

A plug 20, also preferably fabricated of polyvinyl chloride, havingopposite parallel planar end surfaces 211 and 22 is disposedtransversely across the interior of body 111 at a location on the bodyspaced below its open upper end 17. The plug has its circumferentialsurface 23 in surface-to-surface contact with the inner walls of thebody. A plurality of grooves 24 (shown best in FIGS. 3 and 6) are formedin the sidewalls of the plug at regular intervals around the entirecircumference of the plug. The grooves extend along the entire length ofthe plug so that they communicate with duct 12 on opposite sides of theplug. Preferably, the spacing between grooves 24 around thecircumference of plug 20 is such that the distance at the periphery ofthe plug between sidewalls 26 and 27 of adjacent grooves approximates oris greater than the distance between walls 26, 27 of a single groove.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the grooves are tapered along their length sothat they have their minimum cross-sectional area adjacent body lowerend 15 and have their greatest crosssectional area adjacent body upperend 17. Preferably, the taper of the grooves is linear, although tapersother than linear tapers may be used if desired. The grooves may beformed in the sidewalls of plug by the use of a ball end mill so thatthe grooves (see FIG. 3) have sidewalls 26 and 27 which are parallel toeach other essentially radially of the plug outwardly of asemicircularly configured base portion 28 formed along that portion ofeach groove adjacent the axis of the plug. It has been found to besatisfactory if the grooves, at their lower ends, are approximately halfas deep as they are wide and, at their upper ends, are at least as deepas, or deeper than they are wide (see FIG. 3). Regardless of how thegrooves are actually defined in the plug, the groove sidewalls 26 and 27make a substantial angle, essentially a right angle, with plugcircumferential surface 23 notwithstanding the fact that the grooves areskew to the length of the plug as described below. The existence of asubstantial angle between groove sidewalls 26 and 27 and thecircumferential walls of the plug, in concert with thesurface-to-surface engagement of plug surface 23 with the body betweengrooves 24, prevents the generation of thin sheets of water in thedischarge pattern created during operation of nozzle 10. Thin sheets ofwater in the discharge pattern from the nozzle readily degrade,especially in the presence of a breeze, into mist and fine spray whichare objectionable for the reasons set forth above.

As shown best in FIG. 6, plug grooves 24 are formed in the plug to beskew to the length of the plug, the extent of the angle of skew to thegrooves being represented by angle a. The angle of skew of the groovesrelative to the length of the plug may be as much as about or so, butnot more than 45. Preferably, eight grooves 24 are formed around thecircumference of the plug and are uniformly spaced from each otheraround the plug. As shown in FIG. 3, the width of each groove, i.e., thedimension of the groove circumferentially of the plug, is substantiallyless than the diameter of duct 12, with the result that the walls of thegrooves at the point of intersection thereof with the inner walls ofbody 11 lie at approximately 90 to the inner walls of the body. Becausethe value of angle 11 preferably is approximately 30 or so, this nearlyrightangle relationship between the inner walls of the body and groovesidewalls 26 and 27 at the periphery of the plug is not significantlymodified by the deviation of the length of the grooves out of exactparallelism to the length of the body.

All of the grooves are skew to the axis of the plug in the same sense.That is, the upper ends of the grooves are all displaced in the samedirection relative to their lower ends, as shown in FIG. 3. Stated inanother way, if the peripheral surface of the plug were developed onto aplanar surface, it would be found that grooves 24 lie parallel to eachother.

The combined cross-sectional areas of the grooves at plug upper endsurface 21 is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of duct12 below the plug, and at the liquid inlet opening to nozzle 10.Preferably, the plug has a thickness axially of the duct which is atleast equal to the diameter of duct 12 at the location of the plugacross the duct, i.e., the plug is at 7 least square in terms of itslength to its diameter. Also, each groove 24 preferably has a length atleast twice as long as the mean depth of the groove radially of theplug, and may advantageously have a length several times its mean depth.

The upper surface 21 of the plug, peripherally of the opening of eachgroove 24 to such surface, is substantially normal to the elongateextent of the plug so that the water stream emerging from each grooveseparates cleanly from the plug, without generation of mist, fog or finespray, by passing a relatively sharp corner defined by plug sidewalls26, 27, 28 and by plug. surface 21. As shown in FIG. I, it is alsopreferred that the body at upper end 17 form a sharp corner with the.walls of the duct so that the generation of fine spray, mist or fog inthe discharge of the nozzle is avoided at this location of the nozzlestructure.

An elongate open-ended tube 30, defining a liquid flow passage 33 alongits length, is disposed coaxially of duct 12 and extends through plug20, as shown in FIG. 1. Tube 30 has an outer diameter which issubstantially less than the diameter of duct 12 and preferably is lessthan the distance diametri cally of the plug between base portions 28 ofdiametrically opposed grooves 24 at the upper end of the plug. Tube 30has an upper end 31 which is spaced from the plug toward the upper endof the body and preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, is disposed above bodyupper end 17. Tube 30 has a lower end 32 which preferably is spaced fromplug lower surface 22 toward body lower end 15 within the length of duct12, although it is within the scope of this invention that the lower endof tube 30 may be located at the lower end of plug 20. In a presentlypreferredfountain nozzle according to this invention, tube 30 is definedby a length of thin-walled brass tubing. The total effective water flowarea through plug 20 via grooves 24 and tube 30 is no greater than, andpreferably is substantially less than the area of duct 12 below the plugto and including the area of liquid inlet opening 13 to the nozzle.Accordingly, the extent to which water is aerated by nozzle 10 isdetermined by-the structure of the nozzle itself rather than by otherstructure, or by a varying aeration characteristic in water presented tothe nozzle. Therefore, when nozzle 10 is connected to the upper end of awater supply riser pipe or to a suitable fountain base so as to have avertical attitude, and water at suitable pressure is supplied to thenozzle, the nozzle operates to form ornament tal fountain dischargepattern 35 shown in FIG. 5. Discharge pattern 35 is comprised of acentral vertical aerated column of water 36 and an inverted symmetricalcone 37 of aerated water immediately above the nozzle. The centralcolumn of water is provided by water emerging from the nozzle throughcoaxial tube 30, while the cone 37 of the pattern is provided by wateremerging through skew grooves 24 in plug 20. As water flowing throughthe grooves emerges into duct 12 above plug 20, such water is spirallingupwardly and around the inner walls of body 11. As such water passesbody upper end 17, the centrifugal force i such water causes the waterto move upwardly and outwardly from the axis of the nozzle, thereby todefine inverted cone 37.

Water discharge pattern 35 has been produced over a wide range ofapplied water pressures by a nozzle having a body defined by a length ofpolyvinyl chloride pipe having an inner diameter of 3.80 inches. A plughaving an axial length of 3 inches is located 6% inches below the openupper end of the body. Tube 30 is fabricated of l inch nominal diameterthinwalled brass tubing and has its upper end located 8% inches abovethe upper surface of the plug. Eight grooves are formed in thecircumference of the plug; each groove has a radius of inch, and thedepth of each groove increases from 0.300 inch at the bottom of the plugto 0.450 inch at the top of the plug. The value of skew angle a for thisnozzle is 30. When passing 328 gallons of water per minute at a nozzleback pressure of 17 pounds per square inch, the discharge patternproduced by the nozzle is approximately 20 feet high, and 25 feet indiameter.

The basic utility and success of a fountain nozzle is inseparablyrelated to the character of discharge pattern produced by the nozzle inoperation. The characterof the discharge pattern, in the last analysis,is judged by aesthetic considerations which are difficult of definition.The aesthetics of a given fountain pattern cannot be evaluated in theabstract, but rather must be evaluated in the context of the environmentwithin which the fountain is used. That is, a given fountain pattern maybe regarded as extremely beautiful in the context of its surroundings inone application, whereas the same pattern produced by the same fountainnozzle may be regarded as considerably less appealing in a differentapplication and setting. For this reason, the physical proportions offountain pattern 35 should be adjustable to the specific environment andsetting within which nozzle ltl is used; this suggests that fountainnozzles 10 must be custom-built for specific usages. Custom-builtnozzles, however, are expensive since the final structure of acustom-built fountain nozzle can be defined only by an extensive trialand error procedure in the intended setting. To enable control over theproportions of fountain patterns 35 and to minimize the extent to whichnozzles of the type illustrated by nozzle W are subject tocustommanufacturing requirements, nozzle it) includes certain structuralfeatures in addition to those already discussed above.

As shown in FIG. 1, axial tube 30 of nozzle 10 is disposed within anaxial bore 40 formed through a concentric sleeve 41 disposed coaxiallyof plug 20 in an axial bore i through the plug. Sleeve ll has an upperend 42 which, as shown, is disposed a short distance above plug uppersurface 21 or which may be disposed at or below plug top surface 21, asdesired. The sleeve also has a lower end 413 which is disposed belowplug lower surface 22 preferably in the plane of tube lower end 32. Thediameter of plug bore 45 is less than the distance, measured at theupper end of plug 2t), between the most proximate portions ofdiametrically opposed pairs of grooves 24. Preferably sleeve 41, likeplug 20, is fabricated of polyvinyl chloride so that, once theappropriate position of the sleeve axially relative to tube 30 and plug20 has been determined, the sleeve may be secured in place in the plugby solvent bonding techniques.

The external diameter of sleeve ill below plug lower surface 22 isvariable, at the site at which nozzle is to be installed (if desired),to effectively regulate the volume of water flowing through grooves 26to define pattern lower tier 37 relative to the volume of water whichflows through tube 36 to define central column 36 of the dischargepattern. In effect, the greater the diameter of the sleeve between thelower end of tube 30 and the lower end of plug 20, the greater will bethe throttling effect on water entering grooves 24 from the lower end ofduct 12. Such throttling effect has a direct effect upon the diameterand height of inverted conical portion 37 of discharge pattern 35relative to central plume 36. Stated in another way, this throttlingeffect produced by the size of the lower end of sleeve 4l determines therelative heights of the upper and lower tiers of fountain pattern 35 fora given flow rate of water to nozzle 10. As a practical matter, theportion of sleeve 41 below plug end surface 22 functions as a flow-regulating choke collar around the lower portion of tube 30.

The outer diameter of the lower end of sleeve 41 is readily changed atthe site of installation of nozzle it) since it is preferred that suchsleeve be fabricated of polyvinyl chloride, which material is readilyworked by simple tools. Once the specific configuration of the lower endof the sleeve has been determined empirically at the site of use of thefountain nozzle, the sleeve is secured into plug 20, preferably bysolvent bonding techniques, to fix the position of the sleeve into theplug. Preferably the tube 30 is forcefitted into sleeve bore 46 suchthat positioning of sleeve ill relative to plug fixes the position oftube 3t) relative to plug 20.

it is desirable that central plume 36 of fountain discharge pattern 35be as straight and coherent as possible for best aesthetic values anddefinition of the fountain pattern. To assure that water flowing throughtube 30 during use of nozzle 10 is directed upwardly, thereby to definea coherent column 36 of the greatest height possible,stream'straightening baffles 48 and W are provided at the lower andupper ends, respectively of tube 30. As shown best by FlGS. 4 and 2,baffles 4-8 and 49, respectively, are essentially identical and are ofcru ciform configuration. Each baffle is defined by perpendicularlycrossed, vertically disposed thin metal plates and 5]! force-fitted orsoldered into the adjacent ends of tube 30. As shown in FlG. 7, however,a single flat plate 53 disposed diametrically of the interior of tube 30may be used as an alternate to stream straighteners 68 and 419. Thebaffle configuration shown FIGS. 2 and l, however, is preferred to thatshown in FIG. 7 since the structure of baffles 43 and 69 provides morecomplete control over the flow characteristics of water emerging fromtube 30.

Another nozzle 66, which provides much the same benefits of control overthe proportions of discharge pattern 35 as nozzle It), is illustrated inFIG. 3. Nozzle includes a tubular body lit and a peripherally groovedplug 20 in which grooves 26 are tapered and disposed skew to the lengthof the plug in accord with the foregoing description; these componentsof nozzle 60 are identical to those correspondingly numbered componentsof nozzle 10. Nozzle 66 differs from nozzle it) in the details of thecoaxial tube 61 provided through the nozzle. Tube 61 is openended todefine a central liquid flow passage 62 through the nozzle from belowplug 20 to adjacent the open upper end of body lll. Tube 61 has an outerdiameter corresponding to the diameter of axial bore 45 through plug 20.An axially bored bushing 63 is fitted into the upper end of tube 6ll tohave its upper end 64 coextensive with upper end 65 of tube 6ll. Bushing63 has an axial bore 66 which has a diameter essentially equal to theinner diameter of tube 30. Preferably, bushing 63 is configured so thatbore 66 is at least as long as and preferably is longer than thediameter of such bore. Bushing 63 is secured from axial movement alongtube 61 as by force-fitting the bushing into the tube.

The presence of bushing 63 in tube 61 determines the effective waterflowarea of passage 62 and therefore, in the context of the overallstructure of nozzle 60, is significant in determining the volume ofwater which flows through tube 61 relative to the volume of water whichflows through plug grooves 24.

Another nozzle 70 according to this invention is shown in FIG. 9. Nozzle70 includes some components which are identical to the components ofnozzles M) and 60; therefore the same part numbers are used with respectto these components. Other components of nozzle 70 are very similar tocomponents of nozzles l0 and 60 and thus are given primed referencenumbers to signify the similarity. Thus, nozzle 70 includes an elongatetubular body ll defining an elongate duct l2 through its length. Theduct has a liquid inlet opening 13 defined across a lower end 115 of thebody, and a liquid outlet opening 116 defined across the upper end 17 ofthe body. A plug 26, in accord with the foregoing description, isdisposed across duct 12 adjacent the outlet end of the duct in themanner described above. Thus, plug 20 has upper and lower parallel endsurfaces 21 and 22 which preferably are perpendicular to the length ofduct l2 and a plurality of skewtapered grooves 24 formed in thesidewalls of the plug.

A tube 71l, preferably a thin-walled brass tubing and having a diametersimilar to the diameter of tube 611 of nozzle 60, is intimately engagedin a circular bore 72 formed coaxially through plug 20. Tube 74!-preferably has its upper end 73 located in the plane of plug upper endsurface 21 and preferably has its lower end 74 located below lower end15 of body tube fit. A chamber 75 is provided inside tube '71 below plug20. A cruciform stream straightening baffle assembly 48' is disposed intube 71 adjacent its lower end and is composed of a pair ofperpendicular plates 50 and 5ll'. Baffle plates 50 and 511 preferablyare defined of sheets of polyvinyl chloride rather than metal as is thecase with plates 50 and 51 of baffle 48 encountered in nozzle it).

A central liquid discharge tube 30' extends coaxially of nozzle 70 froma lower end 32, preferably coextensive with the lower end surface 22 ofplug 20. Tube 30 has its upper end 31 disposed outwardly of nozzle body111 as shown in FIG. 9. A liquid flow passage 33 is defined within tube30' coaxially of body ill and preferably has a singlestream-straightening baffle 53 disposed diametrically thereacross at itsupper end as shown in FIG. 9 in a manner consistent with theillustration of FIG. 7. Adjacent its lower end, tube 30 has its outersurface intimately engaged within a coaxial bore 40 formed through anannular sleeve 41. The outer surface of annular sleeve 41' is intimatelyengaged with the inner surface of tube 71 adjacent the upper end of suchtube. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, sleeve 41' has a length which is a smallamount greater than the length of plug 20 and is so disposed relative tothe plug that its upper end surface 42' is coplanar with plug endsurface 21 and its lower surface 43' is below plug lower end surface 22.In this manner, chamber 75, having a diameter greater than the diameterof passage 33 through tube 30', is defined within tube 71 below tube30'.

It has been found that streamstraightening baffle 48 functions best whenit operates upon liquid flowing past it at a relatively low velocity.Accordingly, tube 71 has a diameter which is substantially greater thanthe diameter of coaxial liquid discharge tube 30. The liquid which flowsthrough tube 71, when the externally threaded lower end of body 11 isengaged with a suitable fountain base or riser pipe, moves with avelocity which is substantially less than the velocity of the liquidflowing through passage 33. Thus, stream-straightening baffle assembly48' operates efficiently upon liquid flowing through chamber 75 toeffectively control and enhance the aesthetic characteristics of centralplume 36 of fountain discharge pattern 35. To facilitate the smoothtransfer of fluid from chamber 75 to coaxial discharge passage 33, thelower end of bore 40 through sleeve 41 is flared outwardly, as shown inFIG. 9, to fair the boundaries of chamber 75 into passage 33.

The enlarged diameter of tube 71 relative to the diameter of tube 30'provides some measure of control over the relative quantities of liquidused to define central plume 36 and inverted cone 37 of dischargepattern 35. That is, an annular chamber 81 is defined in nozzle 70 belowplug 20 around the exterior of tube 71. Only liquid present in thischamber may enter grooves 24 for discharge from the nozzle as invertedcone 37. The enlarged diameter of tube 71 relative to that of tube 30provides that chamber 81 has relatively small volume. Further controlover the quantity of liquid-defining lower tier 37 of fountain pattern35, relative to the quantity of water-defining central plume 36, isfurther provided by a throttling ring 78. Throttling ring 78 cooperateswith the inner surface of duct 12 immediately adjacent lower end of body11. Thus, when nozzle 70 is secured to a suitable fountain base or riserpipe, throttling ring 78 cooperates with the exterior of tube 71 toprovide a restricted annular inlet opening to chamber 81 and grooves 24.

Preferably, throttling ring 78 and sleeve 41' of nozzle 70 arefabricated of polyvinyl chloride. The throttling ring is suitablysecured to body 11 by solvent or ultrasonic bonding techniques, asdesired. Sleeve 41 is secured between tubes 71 and 30 by interferencefits, which securing mechanism is also relied upon to fix tube 71 inplug 20.

Preferably water is supplied to nozzles 10, 60 and 70 at relativelyhigh-pressure, such pressure being required to define the central plume36 of discharge pattern 35 at the desired height. Some of the mechanismsrelied upon to control the height of inverted cone 37 relative tocentral plume 36 have already been described. The relative height ofcone 37 to plume 36 is also determined in substantial part by the taperof grooves 24. The total quantity of water which emerges from nozzles10, 60 and 70 to define inverted cones 37 is principally dependent uponthe aggregate cross-sectional area of grooves 24 at their lower ends.The extent to which the cross-sectional area of the grooves increasesalong the length of plug is pertinent to the velocity with which suchwater emerges from the nozzle; the velocity of such water as it emergesfrom the nozzle in turn controls the height and spread ofinverted cone37. Specifically, the velocity of water entering grooves 24 is reducedby an amount related to the difference in the crosssectional area of thegrooves between their lower and upper ends, such area change beingdetermined in principal part by the taper of grooves 24. In view of whathas been described above, therefore, it is apparent that subtle changesin the effective waterflow area of grooves 24 and of the taper of suchgrooves will have significant effects upon the aesthetic properties ofdischarge pattern 35.

In the foregoing description, certain specific structures and structuralrelationships have been set forth for the purposes of example andillustration. Workers skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains will readily appreciate that changes in the described structuremay be made without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be regarded aslimiting the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An ornamental fountain nozzle comprising an elongate tubular bodydefining a duct therethrough between opposite open liquid inlet andoutlet ends of the body, a plug having substantial length relative tothe diameter of the duct disposed across the duct inwardly of the bodyoutlet end adjacent thereto and secured from movement along the lengthof the body, the plug being engaged around its periphery with the ductwalls, a plurality of grooves formed in the plug sidewalls andcommunicating between the opposite ends of the plug, the surface of theplug adjacent the body outlet end being substan tially normal to theelongate extent of the plug peripherally of the opening of each grooveto said surface and defining sharp corners with those walls of thegrooves which are defined by the plug, and an open-ended tube extendingaxially of the body from a lower end communicating with the duct on theside of the plug toward the body inlet end through the plug to an endspaced toward the body outlet end from the plug.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a line between the oppositeends of each groove is skew to the length of the plug by an amountwithin the range of from 0 to about 30.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein all of the grooves have thesame angle of skew relative to the length of the plug.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of thegrooves are arranged in substantially identical patterns in the oppositeends of the plug.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the grooves are tapered alongtheir length.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the taper of each groove isregular along the length thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the taper of each groove isarranged so that the groove has its maximum crosssectional area in aplane normal to the length of the groove at the end thereof adjacent thebody outlet end.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the grooves and the duct wallscooperate to define a corresponding plurality of liquid flow passagesthrough the plug which have an aggregate cross-sectional area at leastadjacent the body outlet end which is substantially less than thecross-sectional area of the duct.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between adjacentones of the grooves circumferentially of the plug is at leastapproximately the width of one of the grooves circumferentially of theplug.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a diameter whichis substantially less than the diameter of the duct.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the tube defines a passagetherealong, and the cross-sectional area of the passage in combinationwith the minimum aggregate cross-sectional area of the grooves issubstantially less than the area of the duct.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said end of the tube isdisposed outwardly of the duct.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the other end of the tube isspaced from the plug toward the body inlet end.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the other end of the tube isdisposed within the length of the duct.

15. Apparatus according to claim 10 including means associated with thetube for regulating the relative quantities of liquid flowing throughthe tube and the grooves in use of the nozzle.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the regulating meansincludes an axially bored bushing disposed in the tube.

17. Apparatus according to claim to wherein the bushing is disposed inthe tube adjacent said end thereof.

l8. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the tube has an opposite endspaced from the plug toward the body inlet end and disposed in the duct,and the regulating means includes a collar circumferentially of the tubebetween the plug and the body inlet end.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 including streamstraightening bafflemeans in the tube.

20. An ornamental fountain nozzle comprising an elongate tubular bodydefining a duct therethrough between opposite open liquid inlet andoutlet ends of the body, a plug having substantial length relative tothe diameter of the duct disposed across the duct inwardly of andadjacent to the body outlet end, a plurality of grooves formed in theplug sidewalls at regular intervals around the circumference of the plugeach communicating between the opposite ends of the plug, each groovebeing tapered along its length to have its greatest crosssectional areaadjacent the body outlet end and having sidewalls which intersect theplug sidewalls at a substantial anglc, the grooves having their elongateextent disposed skew to the length of the plug, the surface of the plugadjacent the body outlet end around the opening of each groove theretodefining a sharp corner in cooperation with the walls of the groove, andan elongate hollow open-ended tube disposed through the plug coaxiallyof the duct.

21. Apparatus according to claim 115 wherein the regulating meansincludes a liquid flow-throttling collar secured to the llll bodycircumferentially of the duct adjacent the liquid inlet end of the body.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 including extension means for thetube extending the passage through the tube to a location spaced fromthe plug in the direction of the liquid inlet opening to the body.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the tube extension means hasan inlet end disposed outwardly of the body from the body liquid inletopening.

24. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the tube has an end oppositeto said end, the tube opposite end is disposed within the length of theduct, and including a second tube having a diameter substantiallygreater than that of the first tube and less than that of the duct, thesecond tube being concen tric to the first tube and extending from theplug to an end spaced from the plug in the direction of the body liquidinlet opening.

25; Apparatus according to claim 24 including means fairing the passagethrough the first tube into the inner diameter of the second tube.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24 including streamstraightening bafflemeans in the second tube adjacent said end thereof.

27. Apparatus according to claim 2 1i wherein the end of the second tubeis disposed outwardly of the body.

23. Apparatus according to claim 27 including a liquid flowthrottlingcollar circumferentially of the duct and carried by the body adjacentthe liquid inlet end thereof.

1. An ornamental fountain nozzle comprising an elongate tubular bodydefining a duct therethrough between opposite open liquid inlet andoutlet ends of the body, a plug having substantial length relative tothe diameter of the duct disposed across the duct inwardly of the bodyoutlet end adjacent thereto and secured from movement along the lengthof the body, the plug being engaged around its periphery with the ductwalls, a plurality of grooves formed in the plug sidewalls andcommunicating between the opposite ends of the plug, the surface of theplug adjacent the body outlet end being substantially normal to theelongate extent of the plug peripherally of the opening of each grooveto said surface and defining sharp corners with those walls of thegrooves which are defined by the plug, and an open-ended tube extendingaxially of the body from a lower end communicating with the duct on theside of the plug toward the body inlet end through the plug to an endspaced toward the body outlet end from the plug.
 2. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein a line between the opposite ends of each groove isskew to the length of the plug by an amount within the range of from 0*to about 30*.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein all of thegrooves have the same angle of skew relative to the length of the plug.4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of thegrooves are arranged in substantially identical patterns in the oppositeends of the plug.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the groovesare tapered along their length.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5wherein the taper of each groove is regular along the length thereof. 7.Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the taper of each groove isarranged so that the groove has its maximum cross-sectional area in aplane normal to the length of the groove at the end thereof adjacent thebody outlet end.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the groovesand the duct walls cooperate to define a corresponding plurality ofliquid flow passages through the plug which have an aggregatecross-sectional area at least adjacent the body outlet end which issubstantially less than the cross-sectional area of the duct. 9.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between adjacent onesof the grooves circumferentially of the plug is at least approximatelythe width of one of the grooves circumferentially of the plug. 10.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a diameter which issubstantially less than the diameter of the duct.
 11. Apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein the tube defines a passage therealong, andthe cross-sectional area of the passage in combination with the minimumaggregate cross-sectional area of the grooves is substantially less thanthe area of the duct.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein saidend of the tube is disposed outwardly of the duct.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein the other end of the tube is spaced fromthe plug toward the body inlet end.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13wherein the other end of the tube is disposed within the length of theduct.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 10 including means associatedwith the tube for regulating the relative quantities of liquid flowingthrough the tube and the grooves in use of the nozzle.
 16. Apparatusaccording to claim 15 wherein the regulating means includes an axiallybored bushing disposed in the tube.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16wherein the bushing is disposed in the tube adjacent said end thereof.18. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the tube has an opposite endspaced from the plug toward the body inlet end and disposed in the duct,and the regulating means includes a collar circumferentially of the tubebetween the plug and the body inlet end.
 19. Apparatus according toclaim 1 including streaM-straightening baffle means in the tube.
 20. Anornamental fountain nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body defininga duct therethrough between opposite open liquid inlet and outlet endsof the body, a plug having substantial length relative to the diameterof the duct disposed across the duct inwardly of and adjacent to thebody outlet end, a plurality of grooves formed in the plug sidewalls atregular intervals around the circumference of the plug eachcommunicating between the opposite ends of the plug, each groove beingtapered along its length to have its greatest cross-sectional areaadjacent the body outlet end and having sidewalls which intersect theplug sidewalls at a substantial angle, the grooves having their elongateextent disposed skew to the length of the plug, the surface of the plugadjacent the body outlet end around the opening of each groove theretodefining a sharp corner in cooperation with the walls of the groove, andan elongate hollow open-ended tube disposed through the plug coaxiallyof the duct.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the regulatingmeans includes a liquid flow-throttling collar secured to the bodycircumferentially of the duct adjacent the liquid inlet end of the body.22. Apparatus according to claim 21 including extension means for thetube extending the passage through the tube to a location spaced fromthe plug in the direction of the liquid inlet opening to the body. 23.Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the tube extension means has aninlet end disposed outwardly of the body from the body liquid inletopening.
 24. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the tube has an endopposite to said end, the tube opposite end is disposed within thelength of the duct, and including a second tube having a diametersubstantially greater than that of the first tube and less than that ofthe duct, the second tube being concentric to the first tube andextending from the plug to an end spaced from the plug in the directionof the body liquid inlet opening.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 24including means fairing the passage through the first tube into theinner diameter of the second tube.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 24including stream-straightening baffle means in the second tube adjacentsaid end thereof.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the end ofthe second tube is disposed outwardly of the body.
 28. Apparatusaccording to claim 27 including a liquid flow-throttling collarcircumferentially of the duct and carried by the body adjacent theliquid inlet end thereof.